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DWP continues conversation about LA solar

Los Angeles water and power officials begin a series of public workshops on what solar power plans for the region will look like. KPCC's Molly Peterson offers this preview.

In the spring, Angelenos voted down Measure B. It would have changed the city's charter to require L.A. to develop, own, and operate 400 megawatts of solar power. Supporters liked that the plan would boost solar and union jobs. Opponents said the plan was too vague, and could raise rates too rapidly.

When B was no longer to be, Department of Water and Power chief David Nahai vowed to move forward with solar energy anyway. Now the utility will hold six public workshops around L.A., to explain how that will happen, and to find out what people think. Specifics of the plan still aren't too public, although DWP has set a goal of generating nearly a quarter of its renewable energy from solar within 11 years.

Solar planners for the utility told water and power commissioners last month that DWP could hire as many as 500 new workers by year's end to build large-scale projects, on rooftops and other places. The utility’s solar plans could grow as many as 1,200 jobs within three years.